New flexible mobile train tickets scheme

A map of the lines and stations in the pilot m-ticket area.

Published:11:39Tuesday 16 June 2015

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People in Morecambe and Heysham are amongst the first in the country to be able to use a pioneering new flexible mobile ticket that lets passengers switch between different train companies on their journey.

Train companies are piloting an m-Ticket for passengers travelling in two separate pilot areas involving 86 stations in the north west, north east and Yorkshire.

Before now, m-Tickets downloaded to smartphones or tablets have been limited to use on a specific service but now, for the first time, passengers can use m-Tickets on any service run by any of the operators involved in the scheme.

The new m-Ticket is available from and for travel on any CrossCountry, First TransPennine Express, Northern Rail, Virgin Trains East Coast or Virgin Trains service for journeys made wholly within the pilot area.

To take part in the pilot, passengers just have to download an app to their mobile device from any of the participating train companies or retailers and when buying tickets online or via the app choose the option to receive their ticket as an ‘m-Ticket’.

Retailer TheTrainline.com has also signed up to take part and sell m-Tickets through its app. Mostafa Gulam of National Rail, representing the rail companies and retailers taking part in the pilot, said:“We’re excited about the new flexible m-Ticket, which will give people an opportunity to see for themselves the benefits of being able to buy and download their ticket straight to their mobile device for use on a number of operators operators’ services.”

The m-Ticket is just one of the early benefits for passengers of the rail industry’s long-term plan to make buying tickets more convenient.